My Morning Routine

⇾ Chris Olsen, TikTok Star

My Morning Routine

⇾ Chris Olsen,
TikTok Star

The comedic TikTok star on caffeinating and conquering the day

TikTok star Chris Olsen

When it comes to coffee, it’s hard to think of someone more influential than Chris Olsen. The guy has over 10.5 million followers on TikTok, where his caffeine-charged videos have amassed nearly a billion likes. He's now known for delivering brew to A-listers—everyone from Austin Butler and Jennifer Lopez to Vice President Kamala Harris—or simply jetting around the world in search of a great cup of coffee. With such a rabid following, it's no surprise that he was bombarded with requests. “People were always asking, 'Where's my coffee?,' so I wanted to create something physical that anyone could enjoy,” he tells me. Earlier this year, he launched Flight Fuel, a line of airport-named whole bean blends and cold brew concentrates.

The brand, complete with a throwback Pan-Am feel, ties into his comedic take on coffee, but there's some real heart behind Flight Fuel as well. Olsen says it was important to implement some sustainability into the brand, like planting a tree with every purchase and providing a free usable cup with every subscription. And since this is an LGBTQ+-owned business, the brand launched a limited-edition Pride collection this month, donating 15% of proceeds to amfAR. We tracked Olsen down on a short layover to see how the hilarious digital creator and noted coffee aficionado starts his day.

The Series

Those moments between turning off the alarm and getting into our work routine can be the most defining 60 minutes of our day. Benjamin Franklin set a day's worth of plans by 5 am and Steve Jobs asked a simple question: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" Our rituals are a reflection of us. So we've ventured out to discover how some of our most influential and fruitful peers get started.

Chris Olsen illustration

My Routine

I would consider myself a mid-way morning person.

I really love the upsides, that extra time I can have to myself in the morning. But you'll never catch me waking up at 6 am, heading straight for the gym and attacking the day in that way.

Travel makes waking up tough.

I always shoot for 8:30 am, but being in different time zones constantly leaves me battling some type of jet lag. But I really try to get a full eight hours of sleep and usually aim to head to sleep around midnight.

I have a love/hate relationship with my snooze button.

I need my alarm. But I'll almost always allow myself that snooze ... pretty much every day, but I try not to press it more than once.

My nightstand is currently a high/low mix.

I've got Polaroids of me and my friends, a water bottle that's full and ready for me whenever I need water, a night guard so I don't grind my teeth, and an Apple Watch and phone charger.

Every day that I’m home, I make my bed.

It's an easy win for the day, right? I started to be more consistent with that a few years back and now it's a non-negotiable.

The first app I check on my phone ...

Depends on what's popped up in the morning, but realistically it's Messages to make sure no texts need my immediate attention and then if I'm being honest, it's straight to TikTok.

Advertisement

I take my coffee seriously, but I do like to switch it up.

Most days I go with my Flight Fuel LAX cold brew concentrate blend. It has the perfect amount of flavor and sweetness to wake up and also feel like a treat. But other days I brew some of the Flight Fuel beans for a hot coffee and go from there.

I love a reliable, filling breakfast.

Almost immediately, I get myself a bacon, egg and cheese whether I'm in Brooklyn or Los Angeles. It must be before my coffee because it's important to eat before coffee!

Walks are my daily ritual.

As soon as I get my breakfast and coffee, I'll go on a walk—rain or shine, it's just a part of my routine now and my day doesn't feel complete without one. I really use that time to slowly start my day. I always listen to music and keep that time to myself.

You’ve got to carve out that time for yourself.

As I've grown in my career I've learned the importance of completing your morning ritual and having your own time before getting straight into work mode. Making sure I've spent time alone, getting into the day slowly, is so important. Afterward, I'm ready to take on whatever work looks like that day.

I’ve come to appreciate my morning routine.

It's become much more important for me to prioritize my morning time, especially after COVID. When I was in college as the pandemic first hit, we were taking full advantage of rolling out of bed and getting into whatever the day looked like. After doing that day after day (after day!), I was reminded how important it is to slow down and create some intentional time for myself.

One thing I don’t do in the morning ... is work out.

I've come to learn that I like working out in the afternoon. I'm a big midday workout person because I'm at peak energy. And, bonus, there's practically no one in the gym during that time.

Advertisement

As for grooming, I keep it light but invest in quality products.

Better products just work better. I stay consistent with a basic gentle cleanser and my moisturizer with SPF. I do like to switch up my serums though—I'm always on the hunt for something new and interesting to try.

When it comes to dressing, I don’t plan much.

When traveling, I have an idea of what I might be wearing, but I definitely just decide in the morning. I wouldn't say I have a definitive daily uniform, but it's usually some variation of a nice fitted T-shirt and a pair of neutral pants for my casual days.

Chris Olsen's favorite grooming products

Clockwise, from top left

Balancing conditioner,
$55 by Oribe

Natural deodorant,
$13 by Native

Water Drench hyaluronic
moisturizer SPF 45,
$55 by Peter Thomas Roth

Probiotic and antioxidant supplement,
$49.99 / $38 by Just Thrive

LAX vanilla
cold brew concentrate,
from $18 by Flight Fuel

No. 7 hair oil,
$30 by Olaplex

Serene Scalp
anti-dandruff shampoo,
$52 by Oribe

Chris Olsen's favorite grooming products

Balancing conditioner,
$55 by Oribe

Serene Scalp
anti-dandruff shampoo,
$52 by Oribe

Water Drench
hyaluronic moisturizer
SPF 45, $55
by Peter Thomas Roth

Natural deodorant,
$13 by Native

No. 7 hair oil,
$30 by Olaplex

Probiotic and
antioxidant supplement,
$49.99 / $38 by Just Thrive

LAX vanilla
cold brew concentrate,
from $18 by Flight Fuel

Clockwise, from top left

Serene Scalp
anti-dandruff shampoo,
$52 by Oribe

Balancing conditioner,
$55 by Oribe

Natural deodorant,
$13 by Native

Water Drench hyaluronic
moisturizer SPF 45,
$55 by Peter Thomas Roth

No. 7 hair oil,
$30 by Olaplex

Probiotic and antioxidant supplement,
$49.99 / $38 by Just Thrive

LAX vanilla
cold brew concentrate,
from $18 by Flight Fuel

When it comes to dressing, I don’t plan much.

When traveling, I have an idea of what I might be wearing, but I definitely just decide in the morning. I wouldn't say I have a definitive daily uniform, but it's usually some variation of a nice fitted T-shirt and a pair of neutral pants for my casual days.

Never leave
home without ...

Never leave home without ...

My Airpod Pros. I always must have a way to listen to music and you really can’t beat these little buds.

AirPods Pro,
$249 / $199.99 by Apple

The Smart Way
to Start Your Day

The Daily Valet. is your cheat sheet to what's happening, what's cool and what's making headlines. It's your secret to being the most interesting man in the room.

More Morning Routines

Advertisement